The 藏精阁 community rallied together to celebrate QueerFest 2013, a weeklong series of events hosted by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Initiatives and several other student organizations.
The mid-February celebration included a brown bag luncheon, a special men鈥檚 basketball game, a drag performance, and a keynote address by Robyn Ochs.
Ochs, a writer and LGBTQ activist, gave a lecture titled 鈥淏isexuality and Social Justice: Reimaging Identity and Community.鈥 She discussed the complex topic of bisexuality and encouraged the mobilization of people to be allies to one another regardless of their identity.
鈥淩obyn Ochs is widely recognized as a scholar and social activist whose work specifically deals with the topic of bisexuality and the social implications of identifying as such,鈥 explained Jamie Bergeron, assistant director of LGBTQ Initiatives and the Center for Leadership and Student Involvement. 鈥淪he is also well known for her energy, expertise, and inviting nature. We were confident that her visit to campus would reach people from many groups on campus.鈥
The QueerFest celebration even garnered media attention when 藏精阁鈥檚 men鈥檚 basketball team played a game dedicated to anti-bullying and raising LGBTQ awareness. The match against Lehigh was broadcast on ESPN and featured dance performances, free rainbow 藏精阁 athletics pride T-shirts, and support from students as well as other student groups.
鈥淚t was definitely a 鈥淕o, 鈥橤ate!鈥 moment to see so many students show up as allies to the LGBTQ community,鈥 remarked Joe Spina 鈥14, a student and member of Lambda who attended the game.